Clamp



Dec. 6, 1966 I R. M. KERR 3,290,040

CLAMP Filed April 6, 1964 8 22 INVENTOR.

FIG. 4. 7305521- M. K522,

OQNEY United States Patent 3,290,040 CLAMP Robert M. Kerr, 220 N. MainSt., Winter Garden, Fla. Filed Apr. 6, 1964, Ser. No. 357,537 3 Claims.(Cl. 269- 95) This invention relates to a clamp or work holder, and morespecifically, to a work-holding clamp adapted for use with aconventional vise means to hold the lower unit casing of an outboardmotor or the like.

A basic objective of this invention resides in the provision of a lowerunit holding fixture or clamp to support the gear casing or lower unithousing of an outboard motor during repair and service operations, theunit being supported in a convenient, secure, safe and rigid position.

Another object is to provide a work holder for use with an outboardmotor which does not require the operator to handle the clamp meansduring operations on the motor, thus leaving both hands free for theperformance of service operations.

Another object is to supply a work holder for an outboard motor unithousing as described above which rigidly and securely supports the unit,but which does not damage the unit.

Among the additional objects and advantages of this invention are theprovision of a holder as described above which is noncomplex inconstruction and assembly, inexpensive to manufacture and sell, anddurable in use.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of thefollowing specification when read in conjunction with the annexeddrawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a clamp means according to thisinvention supporting a lower unit of an outboard motor in a vise means;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, front elevational view of theclamp;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the clamp; and

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view, taken substantially on the section line4-4 of FIGURE 3, looking in the direction of the arrows, and showing theposition of the unit housing in phantom lines.

Proceeding to a more detailed description of the invention, the clamp orwork holder hereof is generally designated in the drawing by referencenumeral 10. The clamp is adapted for use with a conventional vise 12with jaws 14 or the like, in supporting the lower unit or gear housing16 of an outboard motor. The housings 16 conventionally include apointed end portion 18, and may have upwardly projecting rods 20 mountedthereon or other types of upward projections (not shown).

The clamp 10 includes an upstanding, substantially rectangular armmember 22 having a vertical lower portion 24 clamped between the visejaws 14 to fix the clamp in a selected position therein, and an upper,angularly related portion 26.

An elongated, tubular sleeve member 28 is provided, and has oppositeends 30 and 32, and inner and outer walls 34, 36, respectively. Thesleeve 28 is fixed to the upper portion 26 of the arm 22 by welds 38connecting the end 32 thereto, and in such fixed location has an upperside portion 40 and lower side portion 42. Secured to the lower sideportion 42 on the outer wall 36, adjacent the open end 30 of the sleeve,are a pair of elongated, outwardly projecting, substantially rectangulararm members 44, each having an inner, outwardly angled portion 46 fixedby welds 48 to the outer wall, and an outer portion 50 arrangedsubstantially parallel to the sleeve. As will be noted in FIGURE 2, thefixed arms 44 are arranged at substantially 45 radii taken from thecenter of the sleeve.

Secured to the sleeve outer wall 36 on the upper por- "ice tion 40thereof is a substantially U-shaped bracket 52 comprising a bightportion 54 from the sides of which depend a pair of arms 56, 58 securedby welds 60 to the upper side 40 at substantially a central location, asseen in FIGURE 2. The bight portion is centrally apertured at 62 and hasa threaded nut 64 secured thereto carrying a locking screw 66 movablethrough the bight aperture.

For clamping of the housing 16, a movable clamping arm 68 having acentral flat portion 70, and a first, upwardly angled end portion 72supplied with a V-shaped notch 74 is supplied. A second end portion ofthe movable arm includes an upwardly angled member 76 with a flat end78, the end 78 having an opening 80 formed therein.

As seen in FIGURES 1 and 4, the casing 16 is mounted in such manner thatthe end 18 projects into the open end 30, the main body of the casingresting on the fixed arms 44. The housing disclosed in the drawing has aprojected rod, and where a housing of this type is to be mounted, therod is extended through the opening 80 of the movable clamping arm 68,and the screw means 66 is suitably tightened. In those instances whereother types of units are encountered, the opposite end of the movablearm may be employed by a reversal of this element, and the notch 74engaged with a projecting portion or notch in the casing.

Having described and illustrated an embodiment of this invention in somedetail, it will be understood that this description and illustration areoffered merely by way of example, and that the invention is to belimited in scope only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A clamp for the lower unit casing of an outboard motor, for use in avise or the like, the clamp comprismg:

an upstanding arm member including a bottom portion and an upper portionangularly related thereto, the bottom portion being mounted in the vise;

an elongated, tubular sleeve member having opposite ends, upper andlower side portions, and inner and outer walls, one of the ends beingfixedly secured to the upper portion of the arm;

a pair of fixed arm members secured on the sleeve outer wall adjacentthe other end thereof, each arm having an outwardly angled inner portionand an outer portion substantially parallel to the wall, the fixed armsbeing arranged adjacent one side of the sleeve;

a substantially U-shaped bracket having a bight portion and a pair ofside arms, the arms being secured to the sleeve outer wall intermediatethe ends thereof on the upper portion;

the bight portion having a threaded opening therein;

a clamping screw mounted in the threaded opening;

and

a movable clamping arm, including a central section and outwardly angledend portions, the central section being clamped between the screw andthe sleeve outer wall with the end portions engaging the unit casing.

2. A work holding clamp for a unit having an outer surface, the clampcomprising:

an upstanding arm member;

a substantially tubular sleeve member, having an outer surface andhaving a pair of ends, secured to the arm member;

a pair of longitudinal substantially parallel projecting arm membersfixed to the outer surface of the sleeve member and having inner worksupporting surfaces for contacting the outer surface of the unit atspaced apart locations;

a movable clamping arm, longitudinally adjustable in a directionsubstantially parallel to the tubular sleeve 3 member, having an endportion with work securing aperture means thereon;

the end portion of the movable clamping arm engaging the unit at alocation spaced from the last named location; and

changeable fastening means connecting the movable clamping arm to thesleeve to extend outwardly a distance such that the unit is held againstthe open end of the sleeve member and the fixed arm members.

3. A work holding clamp for a unit having an exterior surface and havingan interior and being open at at least one end, the clamp comprising:

an upstanding arm member;

a substantially tubular sleeve member; having an outer surface andhaving a pair of ends, secured to the arm member;

a pair of longitudinal substantially parallel projecting arm membersfixed to the outer surface of the sleeve member and having inner Worksupporting surfaces for contacting the outer surface of the unit atspaced apart locations;

the open end of the unit extending outwardly of the projecting armmembers;

a movable clamping arm, longitudinally adjustable in a directionsubstantially parallel to the tubular sleeve member and having an endportion with work securing aperture means thereon;

the end portion of the movable clamping arm engaging the unit at alocation spaced from the last named locations; and

changeable fastening means connecting the movable clamping arm to thesleeve member to extend outwardly a distance such that the unit is heldagainst the open end of the sleeve member and the fixed arm member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 770,399 9/ 1904Strutz 279-46 1,208,522 12/1916 Duncan 26995 1,614,697 1/1927 Snook26976 1,645,669 10/ 1927 Stevenson 29-200 2,127,828 8/1938 Milton 2692872,679,684 6/1954 Fagan 26976 HAROLD D. WHITEHEAD, Primary Examiner.

1. A CLAMP FOR THE LOWER UNIT CASING OF AN OUTBOARD MOTOR, FOR USE IN AVISE OR THE LIKE, THE CLAMP COMPRISING: AN UPSTANDING ARM MEMBERINCLUDING A BOTTOM PORTION AND AN UPPER PORTION ANGULARLY RELATEDTHERETO, THE BOTTOM PORTION BEING MOUNTED IN THE VICE; AN ELONGATED,TUBULAR SLEEVE MEMBER HAVING OPPOSITE ENDS, UPPER AND LOWER SIDEPORTIONS, AND INNER AND OUTER WALLS, ONE OF THE ENDS BEING FIXEDLYSECURED TO THE UPPER PORTION OF THE ARM; A PAIR OF FIXED ARM MEMBERSSECURED ON THE SLEEVE OUTER WALL ADJACENT THE OTHER END THEREOF, EACHARM HAVING AN OUTWARDLY ANGLED INNER PORTION AND AN OUTER PORTIONSUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE WALL, THE FIXED ARMS BEING ARRANGEDADJACENT ONE SIDE OF THE SLEEVE;